I will keep this as short as I can.
Two years ago my SIL and her family gathered some clothes to take to a women's shelter and they met a woman named "D". My SIL left her phone number and told D if she ever needed more clothes or anything along those lines, to please give her a call. She knew nothing of the woman at that time.
Fast forward to last June - my SIL gets a call from CPS saying a baby had been born to a mother who had used meth and alcohol during her pregnancy. The mother was high on meth when she showed up at an estimated 42 weeks to have the baby at the hospital, no records of any prenatal care whatsoever. The baby was born with meth in his system and because of this the mother was temporarily stripped of any rights and was asked who would take responsibility for the baby. The mother was D from the women's shelter and the only phone number she had written down was my SIL's (this is one year after the only meeting she had with my SIL). CPS dropped the baby off at my SIL's house at two days old and she was told she would have temporary custody of him if she agreed. My SIL and BIL already have four kids of their own but of course, they agreed.
Im leaving out a LOT of details now but since the birth last June, D has been in jail three times for meth, prostitution and theft. All of this prolonged the temporary custody and made the baby eligible for foster care or permanent adoption. After almost a year, my SIL and her family finally got their court date to finalize adoption in May!! The baby (almost a year old now) shows no signs of permanent damage from the meth usage as of now but they have been warned that things could pop up in the future. We are just so overjoyed to be making him a permanent part of the family!
Anyway, all of this is to say I want to get them a special gift to commemorate the adoption. Has anyone had any experience with this or have any ideas?
Re: I have to share...
DD: 05/14/16
DS1: May 2016
DS2: Jan 2019
Baby #3 EDD: 6/18/24
I think the gift of professional photos would be excellent!
https://www.etsy.com/listing/96904468/adoption-art-you-may-not-have-my-eyes-or?ref=market
And a creepy thing... 8/18 is my birthday. I swear I see this number multiple times a day. DH does too. As I pasted this to my post I noticed the date on the print is 8/18. Creeps me out a bit every time.
Been married since 2009.
Unicornuate Uterus (yes I menstruate glitter)
Several MCs
DD born 2013 (our miracle "you can't have babies" baby!)
Wow. That is amazing. That baby was saved, thanks to a chance meeting and people with incredibly big hearts. What a beautiful story. Thanks for the happy tears!
P.S. I also love @AliciaD39 's idea of hiring a photographer to commemorate the special day.
BFP #1: 9/12/2015
DD: 6/1/2016
BFP #2: 1/16/2018 MC 2/2/2018
ETA: If I remember correctly, your husband is very artistic-- I know you guys have a lot going on right now, but if he would be able to draw/sketch something for the family to commemorate the day, that would be meaningful as well.
I really love the photographer idea so they can have this very exciting day documented!
Me: 31
DH: 29, SA - Great
Married: June 12,2011
TTC #1: 1/2014
Diagnosis: Hypothalamic Amenorrhea
Treatment: Clomid: 50mg, 100mg, 150mg - not successful and not monitored
Menopur 75ml (upped to 112.5ml), Ovidrel, & IUI IUI #1 8/31/2015
9/15/2015: BFP HCG - 400, 9/17/2015: HCG - 827, 9/21/2015 - HCG 3,327!